Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-10-04
THE wOMaN'S Christian TEMPER
ANCE UNION.


ans Christian Temperance Union are in an
nuai session in this city, and they have
been cordially welcomed here by persons
of all political parties. COurtesies have
been shown them by republicans As we'll As
democrats. and the REPUBIIC, a repuhli-
can newspaper and public journal, has
given the use of its columns freely and
amply to promote the purposes Of the con
yention.
This general and allpartissn welcome is
given. not because the course of the Ma
tlonsl Union is. in all respects. approved,
but because it is. as whole, doing great
and good work. The Union ia the child Of
tine Crusade. and it has preserved its best
and most practical features-prayer and
personal Christian work. OF these two
features, when they are employed in a
Christ-like spirit. with the purpose Of con-
vinciDg and persuading men. all good citi-
zens must approve. Undoubtedly very
much good has been done during the years
since the crusade, by devoted. praying
women, who have held their public meet
ings. visited jails and hospitals. and per
sonally addressed themselves to the reform
alton of drinking men.
We wish TO award the members of the
National Union fuil credit: and We there
fore call attention TO the good work they
have done m'prccuring legislation in ma,
jori;y of the States of the Union providing
for the instruction of children i'm public
schools as TO the effects of the Use OF al
coholic drinks and narcotics upon the hu
man system. The RErUBlIC has repeat
eddy urged that laws be passed to promote
this purpose, and it congratulates these
Christian women on the degree Of success
they have attained. We hope that the
effort may be crowned with full and uni
yersal measure of success.
There are other features of the Union of
which We approve; but the RErUBIIC is a
republican paper. for very good reasons.
which il is always able to set forth. Al
the same time it is-and always has been
opposed 10 the drinking saloons. and il has
done its best I" restrict, cripple, tax and
otherwise worry and disable the liquor traf-
tic, with the hope of aiding in its ultimate
destruction. Recognizing the fact that il
was impossible to devise any method by
means of which the evil could be wiped
out al once, by one grand. decisive. COM
prehensive demonstration. We have felt as
sured that the practical method of proceed
ur, was 10 restrain and cripple the traffic
and employ all possible devices and meas
ures to promote this end. What have been
the results of this policy What have been
the fruits of the efforts OF anti-saloon re-
publicans sgainSt the traffic?
First-ln Ohio the republicans submitted
a prchibitory constitutional amendment and
ii was nearly carried, largely by republican
votes.
Second-ProhibitiOn prevails in Maine,
Kansas and lowa-three republican states
and in no state in the union that is not a
republican state.
Third-The republicans of Ohio nave
adopted the principle of Local Option and
intend TO give il still broader application
in the future.
Fourth-The republicans of Ohio. by
means of the Dow law. have abolished
thousands of saloons; have raised over
-. 900. 900 from the traffic and reduced the
taxation of the people to the amount OF
that aggregate, and have established pro,
hibition in over two hundred pretty large
spots in the state.
Fifth-Repubiican and democratic legis-
.atures have responded to the appeal of the
y. ". c. T. union, to put into the public
schools ply so!ogical text books Of the righ,
sort.
IL view of these indisputable facts re-
pub.icans, and no doubt many democrats
prove of the official action of the n. W. c.
I. union. in going out of lis legitimate and
proper line to express its approval of the
prohibition political party. which is so i'm
poten. and of so little account that it has
never enacted an anti-liquor law or closed
single liquor saloon. Let US be under
stood: II the union had officially expressed
itself in favor of the principle of prohibi-
bition. it would have simply done its plain
duty; but in the face of the facts that these
women have friends in all the political
parties which have given them efficient aid.
it doesn't seem courteous or proper tha.
they officially take sides against them and
devote their sessions TO speeches de-
nouncing them.
We say this. by way Of explaining the
situation, so that there can be no miscon-
cep.ion of our position. We largely ap-
prove of the Union. We shall do what We
can 10 promote the wholesome measures
advocated by its members and we may say,
as TO its official action in approving the pro-
hi,iti"n party. that there is respectable
miaOrity of republican women who still act
with the Union. and that the action OF the
Cnion alluded to, has. while il seems
10 have done the women power OF
good has not really done the
republicans any harm. The republican
party i. composed OF men who, as voters,
have the responsibility of elscting legisla-
lures and congresses and OF conducting the
affairs OF the government. who are intel
ligent and conscientious and who propose
TO act in the interest Of public honesty and
integrity and for the benefit of the entire
people. There are many other evils be
SIDES the drinking habit and curse, and
they must provide against one and
all as well as against any one
class OF evils. Therefore. while We COM
mend. in general, the work Of the Union,
aud will do what We can to promote all the
wholesome and practical measures it advO-
Gates, we shall continue to act with the
really good and grand republican party.
jus; as if nothing had happened, as do the
larger portion of the husbands and sons
of these good women-prOminent among
whom is tine venerable Father Stewart, the